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(No Model!) R. O. PARSONS. DRESS-GOODS RAGK.

No. 520,494. Patented May 29, 1894.

me NATXQNAL LITHDGRAPHING COMPANY.

WASHINGTON, o. c,

ROMEYN PARSONS, F GRAND LEDeikivnoniennf DRESS-GOODS RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,494, dated May 29, 1894. Application filed January 13, l892- Serial No. 417,940. (No model.)

To 01. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROM-EYN O. PARSONS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Ledge, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dress Goods Racks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved revolving rack for supporting and displaying printsor dress goodsof allkinds,which can be readily turned or revolved to the most convenient position, and which supports the several bolts of dress goods separately so that any particular bolt of goods can be removed from the rack, and as readily replaced, without disturbing any of the others and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my new and improved revolving rack. Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line a:w of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the rack provided with feet to adapt it to be stood on the floor.

The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the several parts by their designating numerals, 1 indicates a pivot-standard, the lower end of which is secured in a flat base-piece, 2, when the rack is intended to stand on a counter, or may be mounted in a foot-piece, 3, as shown in Fig. 4, when it is desired to stand the rack on the fioor.

4 indicates the vertical supporting frame of the rack, which is formed with the sidepieces 5, 5, connected at their ends by. the lower and upper cross-pieces 6, 7, and connected at a suitable distance above their lower ends bya cross-bars. The pivot-rod 1 passes up threugh a central aperture, 6,'formed in the lower cross-piece 6, and its upper end enters and fits in a recess, 8 formed centrally in the under side of the cross-bar 8, as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 3. In both sides of the side-pieces 5 of the rack-frame series of holes, 9, are formed, adapted to receive the ends of the adjustable supporting wires, 10. These wire supporting frames 10 are formed each of a single piece of Wire, of suitable diameter and strength, the ends, 10, 10, of which are bent parallel to each other while the central part of the wire frame is curved in somewhat the form of the letter V, and is bent upward at its inner end as shown at 10. It will now be seen that when the ends of the wire frame are inserted in a pair of the holes 9 of the supporting frame the inner part,

10 of the wire will extend in so that it will receive and support the middle or central part of the goods placed on it, efiectually preventing the same from sagging or dropping in the middle, which would seriously interfere with the removal and replacing of a piece of goods where a large number are supported on the wires of the rack.

The holes 9 are formed on an incline, that is, they slant downward toward their inner ends, as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 3; and the result of this construction is that when the ends of the wire frames are inserted in the holes .9 the said frames will incline slightly upward, as shown in Fig. 2, when the weight of the goods placed upon them will bring them down to a level.

By arranging the longitudinal series of ap ertures in the side pieces 5, out of line with one another on opposite sides of the said side pieces,anotherimportantadvantageisgained. Thisadmits of using thinner material for the side pieces than could be employed otherwise, since if the apertures were in the same vertical plane they could only have a depth equal to one-half the thickness of the material. By arranging them out of line as shown herein, they can be sunk nearly or entirely through the material, whereby the wire frames are given a better attachment to the side pieces.

It will be seen that a large number of the wire frames can be placed in the holes 9 on a side of the supporting-frame 4, and the wireframes are secured in both sides of the upright 4, thereby enabling a great quantity of goods to be displayed on the one rack, which occupies a small and compact space on the counter, or floor; while the vertical frame 4,

carrying the wire-frames and the numerous bolts of dress goods, can be easily and rapidly revolved to show the goods on both sides of it, and to reach the desired piece of goods. Each piece of goods rests upon a separate wire rack, and the wires can be moved up and down in the holes 9 to adjust them to the varying thickness of the bolts of goods; and any piece or bolt of goods can be removed from the rack and replaced without disturbing any of the others, the inwardly-extending centers of the wire frames holding each piece of goods out perfectly straight, so that it does not touch or drag on the others, leaving each piece perfectly independent. The entire rack can be made of either wood or metal, and can be finished in a very ornamental and artistic manner. The wire frames may be constructed so that the distance between their free ends, which enter the holes 9, is somewhat greater than the distance between the holes in the two side-pieces of the vertical frame 4, so that it will be necessary to spring or press the ends of the wire frames slightly together to fit them in the holes 9, and this spring or outward pressure will serve to hold the ends of the Wires firmly in the holes 9, and prevent the possibility of the wire frames being dis turbed or coming out when the goods are be- 36 ing handled and removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a supporting frame or standard provided with a series of apertures, of a series of wire frames bent to the form of aW, said frames having straight outer side pieces or ends inserted in the apertures in the supporting frame and having their central V-shaped portions bent inwardly and upwardly above the plane of the straight side pieces, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination with a supporting frame or standard provided on opposite sides with series of downwardly inclined apertures, of two series of wire frames each of said frames being bentto the form of aW, said frames having straight outer side pieces or ends inserted in the apertures in the supporting frame, whereby the said frames are caused to be inclined upwardly toward their outer ends, the central V-shaped portions of said wire frames being bent inwardly and upwardly above the plane of said straight side pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROMEYN O. PARSONS.

Witnesses:

LE ROY J ONES, W. R. CLARKE. 

